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Stripe test mode and live mode

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Stripe test mode and live mode

Try payments safely with test keys, then switch VisionScaper to live keys and a matching webhook secret.

On this page

Stripe keeps test money and real money apart. Each side has its own keys and its own webhook secret. Switching means changing both fields in VisionScaper.

Before you start

You need a Stripe account and admin access to WordPress.

Steps: test first

  1. In the Stripe Dashboard open the API keys page. Stripe calls the test area a sandbox. Its keys start with sk_test_.
  2. Create a secret key there and paste it into Settings → VisionScaper → Stripe secret key.
  3. Create a webhook destination in the same sandbox and paste its whsec_ secret into Stripe webhook signing secret.
  4. Buy a test credit pack on your site using one of Stripe’s test cards (see Stripe’s testing page).
  5. Check that credits appear and that the Stripe webhook shows Delivered.

Steps: go live

  1. On the Stripe API keys page toggle from sandbox to live mode. The page then shows live keys that start with sk_live_.
  2. Create or reveal the live secret key and replace the value in Stripe secret key.
  3. Open Webhooks in live mode. Create a destination for the same address. Copy its new whsec_ secret into Stripe webhook signing secret.
  4. Save.
  5. Run one small real purchase to confirm.
  6. Review Stripe’s go-live checklist.

What does not carry over

  • Test customers, products and payments do not exist in live mode.
  • Contractors who connected a test Express account must connect again in live mode. Stripe notes that Connect account objects in a sandbox do not return sensitive fields. Whether VisionScaper clears old test account IDs is not verified in code, so test with a throwaway contractor.

Tips

  • Keep a note of which mode the site is in.
  • If you see a mix of test and live payments in the admin, one of the two fields is still on the old mode.

If something goes wrong

  • “Bad signature” in Stripe’s delivery log. The webhook secret belongs to the other mode. Copy the right one.
  • Card declined with a test card. You are using a live key. Switch back to test.
  • Live key hidden. Stripe lets you reveal live keys only when Stripe created them. If you made it yourself and did not save it, create a new key.

Sources

  • Stripe, API keys (sandbox vs live): https://docs.stripe.com/keys (read 2026-10-15)
  • Stripe, webhooks: https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks

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